Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. He was accompanied by his eldest son, MP Namal Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa is in India at the invitation of BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy to deliver a talk in Delhi. He is slated to grace the function of Virat Hindustan Sangam and deliver a lecture on ‘India-Sri Lanka relation: the way ahead’. Subramanian Swamy is the founder of Virat Hindustan Sangam.
Rajapaksa’s visit has fuelled speculation about possible thaw between him and the current Indian government.
Modi had also urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment relating to devolution of powers to Tamils and to go beyond that in finding a political solution. Laying the foundation today for a Cultural Centre being built here by India, Modi said, “Sri Lanka should also progress. Unity, peace and amity are essential ingredients for equitable development where there is respect for all citizens.”
Northern Province Chief Minister and Tamil leader C V Wigneswaran, who was present at the event, made a strong pitch for replacing the 13th Amendment with a more dynamic system of devolution of powers………………….
What did Mahinda Tell Modi and What did Narendra Tell Rajapaksa in Their One to one Meeting in New York?
Everybody is at a loss to understand why Modi did not refer to 13 A with Rajapaksa after having met the TNA much earlier. Whenever Mahinda met Modi’s predecessor Dr. Manmohan Singh, Singh talked about the 13 A at all meets. It cannot be ruled that Modi conveniently omitted talks on 13 A having an alternative plan at the back of his mind to get Mahinda to implement. Or it could be he did not want to remind it as he told Mahinda about the 13 A when he earlier met him at his swearing-in ceremony and that nothing had happened so far. Also it could be that Modi did not want to remind as it would undermine his stand……………..
http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/33678
Modi-Mahinda talks: Indian PM renews 13 Plus call
- Indian Foreign Secretary says Modi discussed 13A in detail with MR
- Modi calls for reconciliation that meets aspirations of Tamils during bilateral talks
- Presidents Office omits references to 13A talks
- Indian leadership vital to SAARC: MR
By Dharisha Bastians President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose Government has been euphoric about the BJP victory, held his first official talks with the newly-sworn-in Premier of India yesterday, but found that Narendra Modi echoed the call of his predecessors for full devolution under the terms of the 13th Amendment and beyond for Sri Lankan Tamils. The two leaders met for their first bilateral discussions at Hyderabad House in New Delhi at 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told reporters following the meeting between the two leaders that Prime Minister Modi had called for “full implementation of the 13th Amendment and beyond” – the infamous ‘13 Plus’ mantra that Indian Government has been insistent about since the end of the war…………………..
http://www.ft.lk/article/299278/Modi-Mahinda-talks–Indian-PM-renews-13-Plus-call